This is a sneak peek at what I will be covering in my live webinar on August 21st on “How to Ditch Your Dead End Job and Find a Career You Love.” –>>Click here to sign up for the live webinar now!
When working with my clients, the topic of finding time to job search repeatedly comes up. If you are currently employed with a busy schedule, it is hard to find the time to job search for your next opportunity. If you are currently unemployed, it’s hard to stay focused on the most important tasks when you don’t have a schedule. Today, I am giving you some ideas of how to organize your time and calendar so you can stay focused and balanced.
But first, I want you to clear your tolerations.
1) Clear Your Tolerations
Tolerations are things in your life that you are currently tolerating right now. They could be as simple as the shirt sitting in your closet that you have been meaning to return for weeks or something that you can’t stand about the co-worker you sit next to.
When I first created my tolerations list, some of the things I was tolerating was a messy desk, a folder on my desk that reminded me of a major disappointment (that I looked at everyday!), a bag of dry cleaning that I kept forgetting to take to the dry cleaners and a messy closet that I majorly needed to organize. When I spent a weekend clearing my tolerations, I plugged my energy drains and immediately had more energy, happiness and joy. I felt a huge weight off my shoulders and ready to begin something new.
Even things that you don’t think you have any control over, such as a boss or co-worker you can’t stand, you might be surprised at what happens just by writing these things down. First of all, it makes you feel better because it is all on paper rather than just in your head. Second of all, changes might start happening that will be more aware of.
What are you tolerating right now? What do you hate about your career and life? Write down a list of 10 things you are tolerating and spend a weekend plugging these energy drains if you can. This is almost as important as job searching because its going to free up your mind and energy. It is going to make room and space for new opportunities to come your way. It is time to clear the clutter and perfect the present.
2) Batch Baby!
If you fail to plan out your day, you will start answering whatever email, text or social media message comes your way. When job searching, you time is more important than ever. Just 15 more minutes per day, could help you find that next career opportunity! You can’t allow your distractions to dictate your actions. You also can’t let other people’s priorities go above your own. Did you know that every time you are distracted, it takes 15 minutes to regain complete focus again? And, we all know how distracting Facebook and Pinterest can be!
I recommend batching. Batching is when you group similar tasks into blocks of time. During this time you have no interruptions or distractions. You can maximize your concentration and really focus at the task at hand. You will complete the tasks faster because they are grouped to streamline completion. You will increase mental sharpness, creativity and productivity. This will decrease stress, fatigue and procrastination.
How can you group similar items together? Here are some recommendations:
- Only respond to emails at certain times of the day (8am, noon and 4pm). The other times turn your email offline.
- Check your social media accounts at certain times of the day (20 min in morning/20 min at night)
- Spend 30 focused minutes interacting and networking on LinkedIn groups
- Spend one day where you attend as many networking events as possible. This way you will be all dressed up and ready to hit the events and won’t spend hours driving and get ready the rest of the week.
- Spend 45 minutes looking for online jobs and emailing the job postings back to yourself. Spend another 45 minutes actually completing the online applications.
- Spend 30 minutes working on your resume and cover letter.
- Spend 60 minutes going through the materials of this course uninterrupted.
- Spend one morning knocking out all of your laundry for the week.
- Buy enough groceries for two weeks so you don’t have to go every other day.
3) Practice The Pareto
The Pareto Principle (or 80/20 rule) states that 20% of your input creates 80% of your results. That means that during your job search, you must really focus on what is working. You need to focus on the 20% of what is going to make the difference in your jobs search to save time and get faster results. 80% of what you are doing right now could be a waste of time. I want you to focus like a laser on the 20% of your job search actions that produce 80% of your employment leads.
What does this means for you the job searcher?
80% of job leads are found through networking. 20% are found through online applications. You must make time to network everyday because that is going to get you the best results. Many people just sit behind their computers and don’t network. This is focusing on the 80% that isn’t going to get you the best results. You are better to get out there and start networking then to work on your resume all day.
What else does this mean?
- The top 20% of your resume is the most important section of your resume. Make it awesome.
- The first 1-2 minutes of your interviews are the most important. Make a great first impression.
4) Free Up Your Time
Because your job search is SO IMPORTANT right now and really going to determine the rest of your future and happiness, you need to be very focused and selfish with your time. Even though you sister wants you to babysit and you are unemployed does not mean that you can babysit. Your full time job needs to be job searching.
I want you to automate, systematize and delegate as much as possible.
Automate: Free up your time by automating little things. Little chunks of time can really add up! For instance, instead of paying your bills manually, have your bills paid automatically through your bank with bill pay. Instead of doing your own budget, have a system like mint.com calculate your budget and expenses for you.
Systemize: Have a system ready for your job search process. For instance, going through this course is a great way to systematize your job search efforts by following a system. Go back to your long-term goals in week 1 and create a systemized to-do list to meet each long-term goal. Have a system for your networking that includes a reminder when to follow-up with a contact or to send a thank you email immediately after an event.
Delegate: What tolerations do you hate that you can delegate? Hire a housekeeper if you can’t stand cleaning. Ask a friend to come help you clean out your closet. Find a dinner preparation store (DreamDinners.com) so you don’t have to prepare dinner. Hire an accountant so you don’t have to spend time to do your taxes. Hire a teenager to run errands for you.
5) Find Your Best Time
Not everyone can jump out of bed in the mornings and get to work. Not everyone can do his or her best work from 1am-4am. When are you the most focused? Morning, afternoon or night?
Don’t spend your BEST TIME watching television. Spend your best time focusing on what is the most important to you right now – job searching and getting your career unstuck.
Now that you have more time on your hands, make sure you join me TOMORROW for my live webinar on “How to Ditch Your Dead End Job and Find a Career You Love.” –>>Click here to sign up for the live webinar now!
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